Matt Vaadi left a Fortune 500 job to start ERG, a payroll company that gives 5% of the business to nonprofits: 3% of revenue, 1% of employee time, and 1% of product. Team members describe how volunteering at shelters, animal groups, and schools deepened their sense of purpose and connection to their community.
I used to work for a Fortune 500 company, and one day I made a call to corporate and asked for a few bucks to support a local nonprofit that was important to me and my family. And when they refused to give us some money for the nonprofit, I understood why. They can't necessarily donate to every nonprofit under the sun. But what I realized was there wasn't a values alignment between myself and the organization. And that's when we started ERG. We started it to be a mission-first company. So ERG gives away 5% of our entire business to local nonprofits, 3% of all revenue, 1% of our time, and 1% of our product so that we can make a meaningful impact in our community. We do that in a host of ways— volunteering, serving together as a team, and we measure the impact that we have. I would love for you to talk to some of our other teammates and hear more about how they view the impact they're making every day with ERG.
Since working at ERG Payroll and HR, I have a newfound perspective on service. In the past, I've always been the one that if a volunteer opportunity was presented to me, I would absolutely be the first one to take it and to help out my community. But I never went out of my way to find additional opportunities that weren't presented to me and ways that I can help in my community. Since working at ERG, we are always looking for different ways that we can help in our community. Community, and now that is just a part of my life. I make sure that I'm doing more and more in the community to make a greater impact. So I'm thankful for that ERG has done that for all of us.
Volunteering impacts me personally because it allows me to build a connection to communities that I care about and I relate to. So for me, it's animal welfare and places that help others get back on their feet. And volunteering really just brings out the best in people. So it's awesome to meet people from all walks of life and You know, even though we live different lives and have different experiences, it's a great reminder of how similar we all are and that we fundamentally share the human experience and we're all in this together.
The fact that community service and volunteering are a part of the culture at ERG makes me feel really good about working with my teammates. Every day that I come to work, I'm surrounded by others that are interested in genuinely making a positive impact on our Society, society. and they dedicate their time and their resources to just be completely selfless and serve others. And those are definitely the kind of people that I want to be around every day.
How has serving at ERG impacted my life outside of work? Working at ERG allows you the opportunities to truly make a difference for others and the community. Volunteering and trying to do good is such a great feeling that the mindset has transferred over from my work life to my personal life. I've begun participating in new opportunities to help others outside of work, such as cleaning up highways and getting involved with some local charities. Even some of my family members are now getting on board and using their time to volunteer and do their part. Serving at ERG has opened up new doors for me and created a desire to continue to go out and help others.
I see firsthand the impact that that ERG makes on our local community every single month when we serve lunch at Transitions Homeless Shelter. Giving back is contagious, and ERG inspires my teammates as individuals, as well as our clients, to volunteer. Whether it's collecting items for Oliver Gospel Mission, donating needed supplies for low-income schools through DonorsChoose, or just simply picking up trash along the highway through Adopt a Highway, ERG gives back and inspires others to do the same.
